Remember Me

Chapter 2: It Begins

Rafe’s POV.

I sat in Dr. James office surrounded by a gathering of Council members. My hand went through my curly black hair as four pictures were pushed in front of me. Abigail and Hannah were 2 of the four.

“One of these four girls.” Dr. James murmured.

Shit. One was my best friends little sister and the other was his crush.

“I’ll keep an eye on Abigail and Hannah.” I conceded. “The other two are someone else’s duty.”

“Rafe’,” started Member Greyson, one of the administrators in the council. “…having you as their guard is a conflict of interest. You’re too close to one of them-“

“Which is precisely why I should be the one to guard them!” I cut off Greyson. “If they need protecting and watching over, who best to take care of them than someone who actually cares about them.”

I could see my point hit home when no one replied. My fingers itched to grab the ciggs in my back pocket. Griffin owed me big time for covering for him. He was late to the meeting but would not be happy when I briefed him. We had both joined as members of the council before our senior year started. It was a prerequisite to enter the elite training academy after sr. year. I had known that we might get a few missions here and there but this… this was a big deal. A deity might have possibly reincarnated into my best friends little sister. If you asked me, Griffin was going to need more than a couple of ciggs. He was going to need a bottle of the strongest whiskey we could find. He had inherited the werewolf gene from his mother and, like all werewolves, was fiercely protective of his family.

“We think it’s Abigail.” Spoke up our English as well as magical herbs teacher Mrs. Miller. “She’s got the highest marks of her class and is on her way to being valedictorian. She’s an accomplished witch with thorough knowledge of the world around her. Hannah-” she pursed her lips disapprovingly. “-is too hotheaded and rash. Her grades are average at best. Her ability to rationalize is even worse. Our goddess would surely be someone wise and from an influential family such as Abigail’s. Her grandfather is a powerful chief of one of the most powerful magical tribes in Nigeria.”

I looked at Mrs. Miller carefully before deciding on my next words “Let us hope it is Abigail then. But let me ask you one thing Mrs. Miller…if you were looking to be reincarnated into a helpless body that needed so much protection that you needed to ask the principal of an academic institution to help you, what body would you pick? A girl with no siblings and some influential ties to wizards? Or would you pick someone related to werewolves who would lay down their lives for you? You know that Hannah’s mother is the daughter of an alpha? An entire pack of werewolves ready to follow their Alpha into whatever war he runs to because the life of his granddaughter is at stake. A war that it seems only witches and wizards are willing to die in because your deity wills it. ” I stood up and began pacing back and forth. “Hannah did not inherit the werewolf gene. She is a witch, a viable candidate to be the reincarnate.”

“Her blood is tainted with werewolf blood! She is not a purebred witch! Our goddess would never pick someone tainted with the bloodline of a werewolf!” exclaimed Mrs. Miller.

I gave her a pointed look to remind her that a purebred werewolf was standing in front of her. Chastened, she looked out onto the grounds where we could see the bonfire burning bright. It still boggled my mind how bigotry was still present amongst us. Werewolves looking down on witches, Witches looking down on werewolves and vampires unable to procreate thought they were the masters of us. It’s a wonder we were even able to co-operate within the Council.

“Rafe’, you may leave.” Dr. James finally spoke up. “Go enjoy what little time you have left to be young and carefree. From tomorrow, you must take up your assigned task to protect these girls. The League is planning something. Something to figure out who is the reincarnation of our deity. They will try to destroy her before she can mature into her powers. “

I nodded my head in agreement and turned to leave. I could hear Griffin walking up the steps. Not wanting to the one to break this news to him, I left once he entered the room. His quizzical gaze followed me but I just kept walking. I needed to find something for us to drink.

Hannahs POV

I was standing by the bonfire warming my hands against the heat of the flame with Abigail when all of a sudden someone bumped into us. I let out a loud oomph and fell to the ground. Abigail didn’t have a petite frame and was able to hold her ground.

“Hey, watch it! You did that on purpose! You’ve been watching us for a while now!” she exclaimed extending her hand so that small sparks flew from them in warning. She was angry. I looked around to see that there were not teachers around. Odd, usually we had chaperones for these school organized bonfires.

I turned to see that it was Joseph Danielles, our school’s resident bad boy and rumored ‘dark’ wizard. He was a senior like my brother. My brother and Rafe’ hated him. The boys just rubbed each other the wrong way. I got up clutching my elbow and glaring at Joseph. Why would he push us on purpose?

“You wish.” Joseph scoffed. “As if you two losers are even on my radar.” His eyes roamed across the ground to stare at Laura behind us. She was a senior and drop dead gorgeous with long tan legs,big boobs,a big butt and big lips. I was pretty sure she had cosmetic surgery done or at the very least, used magical enhancements. Her blonde hair was probably fake too.

“You should apologize for pushing Hannah.” Abigail stated.

Joseph’s eyes roamed to my form. His gaze suddenly made me blush, I had a worn a short black dress with spaghetti straps. It wasn’t anything revealing but his critical gaze made me feel insecure.

“I don’t need to apologize to some mutt.” He remarked, commenting on the fact that I was a product of a union between a werewolf and a warlock. Did I mention that my kind aren’t too fond of werewolves and vice versa? Every werewolf has a mate so it’s practically unheard of for werewolves to marry outside of their kind. My mother’s mate died and she found a second chance at happiness with my father.

“You’re a freak.” Joseph sneered at me. “I am a wizard and descendant of one of the purest lineages amongst us. You should be apologizing to me.” He sniffed disdainfully as if I reeked. He moved to push past me but I stood my ground.

“I may not be descended from some high society royal line of wizards…” I ground out. “…but at least I’m not a complete d**k, unlike you. No one even likes you Joseph. They just pretend to like you because your daddy has money and your mother is a socialite. So from where I’m standing, you’re a pathetic example of what any wizard should be. I don’t have to buy my friends infact… “ I give a scathing glare towards Laura. “…I don’t need to buy my lovers either.”

By now a lot of the people around us had quieted down to hear what was going on.

Joseph extended his fingertips towards me, there was a fire in his eyes which mirrored the fire that had begun to spring from his fingertips. I knew he’d be angry but I didn’t think he’d actually try to burn me. My startled form took a step back and I extended my hands out at the ready, condensing the air around me to form a ball of water in my hands. He was quick, fire shot straight from his fingertips in streams and my water ball whooshed forward to smother the streams. A flash of light whizzed by my ear as I realized he’d tried to send a strike of electric shock towards me with his other hand. A little startled that he was ambidextrous and could use both hands to conjure different spells simultaneously, I took a few steps back. He was too good at magic. My skills weren’t nearly as developed as his.

I was the granddaughter of an alpha and if there was one thing I knew I had the upper hand in, it was hand-to-hand combat. I moved towards him aiming for a high kick but he spotted what I was doing and used his magic to send a burst of wind to push me away. I landed with a hard thud and a resounding crack echoed around us, my cry of pain was the main giveaway that I had broken something. My hand had extended to try to break my fall, I fell at an awkward angle. Abigail suddenly rushed to try to help me.

“NO!” I exclaimed, holding my good hand up. Tears of humiliation were running down my face. I was not about to lose face here in front of everyone. I was going to kick this guy’s ass. I began gathering energy in my good hand. It crackled and sparked as the pain in my injured arm fed the anger rising within me.

“Don’t be stupid.” Joseph’s voice boomed. He snapped his fingers and all of a sudden, the energy began to dissipate from my hand.

Astonished, I glanced up at him. “Wha-“ He was behind me now within the blink of an eye and kneeling down next to me. He was almost as fast as a werewolf!

“Stupid.” He mumbled. “Don’t you know when to quit? You’re hurt.” He was looking at my arm which was still burning in pain. He moved his hand towards my arm only to be rammed into the ground and pummeled by a figure that moved so fast only another werewolf would have been able to tell what happened. Since I lacked the werewolf gene, the figure was just a blur to my eyes. It wasn’t until he spoke that I turned a further shade of red from complete mortification.

“Get away from my sister!”

I closed my eyes. Great as if I wasn’t embarrassed enough, now Griffin was here. A light touch on my injured arm and I didn’t need to open my eyes to know who was looking after me.

“Here,” murmured Rafe’, draping a jacket over me.

As if I wanted to be covered up when I wore this outfit for him.

“You hurt my sister!” roared Griffin continuously pummeling Joseph who had both his arms up in front of him.

I now knew that it was only because Griffin had caught him completely off guard that Joseph was on the ground. Jospeh was just too good at using his magic to be beaten so easily. As if on cue, Griffin suddenly flew back thanks to a gush of wind I’m sure Joseph was the creator of.

“I was only trying to scare her! How was I supposed to know she doesn’t know when to back down?” sneered Joseph. He turned to look at me, his gaze faltered and dropped to my arm. Lifting his hand, he moved his fingers slightly and all of a sudden, I felt the pain lessen in my arm. It wasn’t completely gone, but it was bearable. “Take her to the nurse. It's probably just a fracture and she’ll be fine in a few hours.” Was Joseph’s parting remark as he began to walk away.

Rafe’ shook his head at Josephs back and scooped me up bridal style. “Come on Han-Han. Looks like your first month of junior year and you’re already getting into fights.” He teased trying to lift my mood.

I stared at Rafe’ a little too flustered to comment because of our proximity. “You know I can take care of myself.” I finally commented once Griffin caught up to us on the way to the Nurse.

“What were you thinking?!” Griffin exclaimed angrily. So began his tirade regarding evil warlocks who have been trained since day one to use their magic to harm people and how I was not equipped to get into any fights with someone like him. I rolled my eyes.

Rafe’s grip on me tightened suddenly. I glanced at him, reveling in the tingles going up and down my spine. Well this fight resulted in one good thing. Rafe’s hands felt so good gripping me.

“Joseph’s a dark wizard.” Rafe’ said solemnly. “He could have seriously hurt you if he wanted too Han-Han. You’re just lucky he was trying to scare you.”

“I can hold my own!” I burst out.

Rafe’ looked at me pointedly. “You can hold your own with people like yourself: normal students. Joseph’s been rumored to be dabbling in black magic. They say his family is aligned with the League. He is as power hungry as his father and mother. He’s being trained by private tutors in the art to kill, in the art of battle. Even we haven’t gone through that type of training…”

Yet. I finished the sentence in my mind. Rafe’ did have a fair point. Still, it would have been nice to get just one hit in.

 ***

In a faraway place, a lady with coppery red hair and a transparent form lays near her stone pool swirling her fingers in the water. The image of Hannah in Rafe’s arms disappears only to be replaced with the image of Joseph.

‘Aradia, two protectors?’ mused a very solid and not at all transparent form behind her. It was Diana.

‘Mother…’ Aradia implored. ‘…I had to split myself in two because I could not manifest my entire self in the human body. That’s how weak humans are. Now here I am, in this corporeal form until I reunite with my other half. You know even two protectors are not enough to protect myself as a human. ‘

‘How do you know they will protect you Aradia? Sooner or later, you must reach out to awaken your true self.’ Diana murmured. She hated seeing her daughter in this weakened state. Why must she concern herself with the affairs of mortals? Let the world burn as long as her daughter was safe and strong.

‘Not yet mother. They will both protect her with their lives.’ Murmured Aradia.

‘Why would they?’

‘Love. Unconditional love.’ Replied Aradia, staring at Joseph whose burgundy hair was in disarray as firelight dance over the planes of his angular face.